“When gas got to $1.90, I started thinking about an alternative,” he said. “Half-jokingly and half-seriously, I told my wife (Beth), ‘When the price hits $2, I’m going to buy a bicycle.’ Everything I do is within three miles of the house.

“The last time I filled up the Ranger, it was $50. I looked over at the guy next to me with an Escalade (SUV), and he was over $100 and still going. I said, ‘This is ridiculous.’

“I didn’t follow through on my threat to buy a bicycle at $2, but when it got to around $2.25, I saw a news report about Vespa scooters, what kind of mileage they got and how they were selling. I thought, ‘That’s not a bad idea.’